The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-08-26
PRACTICAL SIMPLICITY.

'Net lNlNj JpN 'D w CPISO
tably, don't you" asked pretty Polly, with
a suspicion of a tear in her eye.
"Why, yes; respectfully" replied Mr..
Harrison, still grumpily, my mother
dressed respectfully without these ever
lasting flummeries you girls are always
teasing me for; good, plain, sensible clothes
and common sense shoes, no opera toes and
French heels on her feet" and he glanced
SUCCESSFULLY at the dainty slipper, which
inopportunely showed itself beneath the
ruflle of Polly's pretty morning wrapper.
"Grandmamma wore a long greer veil,
and a nice big bonnet, too, didn't she %
said mischievous Nellie, ''and her hair in
a little knob at the nape of her neck
"You neean't make fun, MISS" replied
her father, sternly, s'your grandmother was
always sensibly and neatly dressed, and it
would be refreshing to see some of her good
taste in my family"
'But, really, Mr.. Harrison, the girls have
nothing suitable to wear to Mrs. Licoln's
grand party" said Mrs. Harrison, a meek,
StnUlc-NOiCCu llbtIO WOihdH.
'No, and they haven't had anything for
the last five years replied Mr.. Harrison,
with whitening sarcasm; ''buy. buy! and
yet they are in the same distressing situa-
ton of the female before mentioned, " and
he leaned back in his chair with an air of
having clinched the conversation with an
unanswerable argument.
81 wish l was a man," said pretty Nell,
with a pout, 'sthen | could wear one suit
everywhere by varying my neckties."
"Papa, dear, you are going with us to
the picnic, amt you ?" said Kitty anxious
ly; she was a dainty little fairy and her
fathers f~avorite, and, as she spoke, she
glanced at her sisters with eyes so full of
fun and mischief, that they knew she had
some plan in her fertile little brain.
''picnicu" said Mr.. Harrison, in a soft
ened tone; he could not be cross with
Kitty and she well knew it. Bugs and
carvings! When l want my dinner sea-
soned with spiders and g~rand-daddies,
can eat it in the garden"
"Oh, but, papa, we want to go awfully!'
said Kitty, coming and perching herself
on lis knee; she took daring advantage of
her privileges as the youngest, land it is so
awkward to go to such a place without a
gentleman"
ooh, we'll! I can charter Tom for the
OCCASION" replied Mr.. Harrison, quite
good humoredly, ''he is used to handling
packages, and you'll find he will manage
your five baskets and fifteen bundles in
good style" Tom was porter in Mr.. Har-
rison's large store, and doubtless merited
the recommendation.
But that isn't you, papa" replied per-
sistent Kitty, winding her arms around
her stiff-necked parent, and kissing the
lips which could say such unkind things.
ooh, you wheedler!' responded Mr.. Har-
rison, with a feeble attempt at dignity,
''but there; l have just been informed that
you have nothing to wear"
ooh! just for a picnic, papa, one can
wear anything, you know" and her eyes
danced a perfect jig of delighted mischief,
''plain white is perfectly suitable for a bug
and beetle affair of that kind"
'In my day, plain white was considered
just the thing for party occasions also,"
said Mr.. Harrison, quite Modified by his
pets attentions.
"No hoops, or bustles. suppose" said
Kitty, thoughtfully.
mot a hoop" replied Mr.. Harrison,
''and as for bustles, pah"
"Now, papa, I'll make a bargain with
you," said Kitty. 'If you will go to the
picnic with us, we'll agree to wear our
picnic dresses to the party. Isn't that
fair?"
"Well, fair enough if there's no hidden
reservations" replied Mr.. Harrison, eau
tiously. How many yards of muslin and
bolts of ribbon is it going to take to be-
frill you for the picnic?"
'If you'll give me ten dollars l think l
can manage the whole matter" replied
Kitty, demurely.
"Well. we'll. that's getting off quite
cheaply,' said Mr.. Harrison, laughing, as
he counted out the money, while Mrs.
Harrison and the sisters looked on in per-
feet amazement, we'll knowing that Kitty
had some plan in her wise little head,
without in the least comprehending what
it could be.
The picnic morning was a rarity in the
weather line; a perfectly clear sky, and
Just breeze enough to make it delightful,
and Mr.. Harrison was in a rare good hui
NOR also, which was unusual enough to
add materially to the pleasures of the day,
for, unfortunately, he could be decidedly
Grumpy on occasions, but happily for
all concerned, the preceding day had been
a particularly profitable one
at appears to me, mother, it takes those
girls an unusual time to prink this morn
ing" said Mr.. Harrison, looking at his
watch a little nervously, 'the train leaves
at eight"
They'll be down presently said the
mother, with a surreptitious smile, as she
packed the sandwiches into one of the
baskets.
At length there was a subdued rustling
| ON the stairs, and the three girls filed in
demurely, and announced themselves